Swing hinge



Dec. 18, 1951 H. J. SANDS ETAL SWING HINGE Filed Nov. 3, 1949 QM mzzw A TTORNE Y6 i M. W? m mm M i. LT m m N MW W 6 WWJ M A 2 m M W/.//.. MIIIHIIHI i j a a, u W I I Patented Dec. 18, 1951 2,579 206 SWING HINGE Hillard J. Sands and Nathan E. Blanke, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to The Harvard Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 3, 1949, Serial No. 125,296 11 Claims. (01. 16-144) This invention relates to swing hinges, especially to a special type of a reversible hinge that is particularly suited for securing bed frames to a bed headboard.

One of the current desires in the design of bedroom furniture is to provide individual twin beds that can be positioned in closely adjacent fixed relation, or that can be moved apart readily for cleaning around the beds or for making up the beds. One of this type construction that has been used is that of a common headboard with which two beds are associated. Previously it has been suggested that hinges be used to Secure the beds to the headboard.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a sturdy, relatively inexpensive hinge of novel construction, which hinge comprises two members positioned in Opposed relationship and adapted for relative pivotal movement in only one direction from their normal opposed positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an uncomplicated hinge formed from a pair of substantially similar members which have relative swinging movement in only one direction from their normal position but which direction of movement can be reversed by reversal of assembly of one of the hinge component parts.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hinge with a hinge pin that can be used for locking the hinge components in a fixed positionbut which can be readily unlocked for relative pivotal movement, and which can easily be engaged with or removed from a hinge assembly.

'Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge the components of which are adapted to be secured to relatively movable members and with at least one hinge member being adjustable with relation to the member to which it is secured.

A further object is to provide a hinge pin that has a handle portion thereon to facilitate grasping such pin.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

For a better understanding of the present in.- vention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a pair of bed frames that are pivotally secured to a bed headboard by swing hinges embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan of the pivotal connection between one corner portion of a bed frame and the bed headboard shown in Il a Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation taken on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan, similar to Fig. 2, of the hinge and its connection at the left side of the headboard; and

Fig. 6 is an elevation taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Corresponding numerals are used in the drawings and in the specification to refer to the same parts whereby identification of the parts and reference between the drawings and the specification is simplified.

Reference now should be had to the details of the construction shown in the drawings, and these details include a hinge which is generally indicated by the numeral III, which hinge is used to connect a headboard l I to a pair of bed frames I2 and I3 so that the bed frames can be swung out, or pivoted with relation to the headboard. Fig. 1 shows that the bed frames I2 and I 3 are positioned in parallel, side by side relationship and that the bed frames are positioned only for outward swinging movement from such positions. The bed frames l2 and I3 include a pair of side rails at the ends of which adjacent the headboard II end plates Hi, having slots Ma therein, are suitably secured to the bed frames. These end plates I4 provide convenient means by which the hinges Ill can be secured to the bed frame and with the hinges also being adapted for engagement with the headboard II, or to conventional supports or legs provided on the headboard II.

As an important feature of the invention, the hinge III is primarily made from a pair of sub stantialiy similar U-shaped members I5 and I 6. The U-shaped members I5 and it each have a base portion I! and I B, respectively, and side portions I9 and 20, respectively, that extend substantially normally from the base portions at the ends thereof. Each base portion has a pair of these side portions extending therefrom and usually the base portion I! is slightly shorter in length than the base portion I8 so that the sides 13 of the member I5 are positioned within the sides 29 of the member I6 since the members I5 and I 6 are normally positioned in opposed but slightly overlapped relationship, as best indicated in Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings.

A hinge pin ZI pivotally secures the members I5 and It together for relative pivotal movement. This hinge pin ZI extends through axially aligned apertures 22 that are formed in the 3 overlapped portions of the sides, or side portions I9 and 29 of the members I5 and I6.

An important feature of the swing hinge oi the invention is that the components of the swing hinge have relative pivotal movement in only one direction when the members 15 and I6 are positioned in directly opposed relationship, as indicated in Fig. 2. Thus the member 55 is shown as provided with a protuberance 23 which protuberance is shown in the form of an integral boss that extends axially outwardly of the hinge I9 and which has a shoulder 24 formed thereon for abutting against the end of. a side 20 of a member IE to prevent relative pivotal movement of the member inwardly of the said assembly and only permit it in the opposite or outward direction. It will be noted that the holes 22 are preferably centrally positioned in the hinge I and the boss 23 is provided adjacent the laterally inner margin of the side l9 so that a maximum lever arm is provided for the retarding action of the dimple 23.

Another salient feature of the invention is that the components of the hinge It can be locked in the opposed relationship of the members l and I6 as such members are shown in Fig. 2. To this end, the upper side portion it of the member [5 is provided with an aperture 25 therein which is adjacent the opposite lateral margin of the side I9 as is the dimple 23. As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings, the hinge pin 2! has its upper end portions bent over and downwardly, or axially inwardly of the hinge pin at the end portion 26 and this end 26 is adapted to be threaded or inserted through the aperture 25 and the hinge pin 2i then still can be slid axially of the hinge a short distance so that a side area of the end 26 of the hinge pin will be brought into contact with the adjacent end portion of the side 2!] of the member I6. Thus since the end portion 26 is positioned adjacent the opposite side of the hinge I ll from the boss 23, and since the end portion 25 of the hinge pin abuts against the side 26 of the member I6 at the same time that the shoulder 24 abuts against another portion of such side, an effective locking action results whereby the U-shaped members I5 and I5 are locked in opposed and substantially aligned relationship.

Usually both sides I9 of the member I5 are provided with apertures 25 and they also usually both have similarly shaped bosses or other types of protuberances 23 provided on the same lateral sides thereof as are the first aperture 25 and protuberance 23 referred to hereinbefore. Thus the constuction of the U-shaped members l5 and I6 is such that when the hinge pin 2i is completely removed from engagement therewith, then the member I5 can be withdrawn from asociation with the member 16 and the member I5 can be rotated endways through an arc of 180 about its center in a plane defined by the flat base portion ll after which the members l5 and I6 can be reassociated and secured together in pivotal relationship by inserting the pin through the aligned holes 22 provided therein. This rotation of the member l5 positions it for movement in the opposite direction to that in which it originally was movable. big. 5 shows the difference in relative positionng of the hinge components when assembled in this manner whereas Fig. 2 shows the original relationship of such hinge components when prepared for relative swinging movement in the opposite direction to that of which the hinge shown in Fig. 5 can be moved.

It will be realized that the hinge pin 2i is freely movable axially of the hinge i0 and usually some type of means is provided for limiting the axial engagement of the hinge pin 2! with the remainder of the hinge. Thus a plurality of integral outwardly extending lips or fins 27 are formed on the hinge pin 2i and these fins engage with the side 20 to limit axial inward movement of the hinge pin 2|. Normally the hinge of the, invention will be used in a vertical position with ahinge pin extending in a vertical direction and'this will mean that gravity will help retain thehinge pin in a desired looking position. However, in some instances it may be desired to use the hinge cf the invention when its longitudinal axis would extend in a horizontal direction, or it may be desired to leave it in other positions. In the specification and claims the component of the hinge sometimes may be referred'to as if the hinge were vertically positioned but it will be appreciated that this terminology is only used for differentiation between the diiferent components of the hinge and their relative association with each other.

In some instances,.it may be desired to use other relative shapes of the U-shaped members l5 and I5 than those shown herein. Thus one of the members might be made wider than the other and then the dimples 23 and shoulders 24 or other protuberances may be formed to contact the sides of the side portion of the associated hinge members. Also, the lock pin or device used may be formed separately from the hinge pin 2| and merely comprise a separate pin which could be inserted in the locking aperture or apertures provided to limit relative movement of the hinge members. This separate locking pin may be secured to the remainder of the hinge by a chain or other flexible device.

The base 18 usually has longitudinally extending slots I8a provided therein so that the hori zontally disposed slots Na in the end plates I4 can readily be registered therewith dependent upon the positioning of the member IE on the headboard or other device to which it is secured.

It will be noted that the hinge pin 2| has a relatively long return bend therein to form an elongate portionthat extends above the members I5 and I6 and serves as a handle by which the pin can easily be grasped to change the setting of the hinge or to disengage the hinge pin entirely. Thus movement of the beds is facilitated as is the locking of same in given positions.

While one complete embodiment of the in-' vention has been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particular embodiment of the invention maybe resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a hinge, a pair of substantially U-shaped members each having a base portion and a pair of side portions extending from the ends of the base portion, said side portions of the said U- shaped members being positioned in telescoped adjacent relation with the base portions thereof being vertically directed, in spaced opposed relation, saidside portions having one set of centrally positioned aligned holes therein for sliding receipt of a hinge pin, and ahinge pin extending through said aligned holes to secure said members in pivotal relation, one of said members havamass 7 ing a protuberance on each side portion thereof adjacent the corresponding lateral margins thereof to abut against the ends of the side portions of said other member and limit relativepivotal movement of said members in one direction,

the side portions of said other member to pre" vent relative rotation therebetween' in the other direction when said protuberances prevent relative movement of said members in one direction, said hinge pin being freely movable outwardly of the hinge to remove the said end of said hinge pin from engagement with saidm'embers.

2. In a hinge, a pair of substantially U-shaped members each having a base portion and a pair of side portions extending from the ends of the base portion, said side portions of the said U- shaped members being positioned in telescoped adjacent relation with the base portions thereof being vertically directed in spaced opposed relation, said side portions having one set of aligned holes therein for receipt of a hinge pin, and a hinge pin extending through said aligned holes to secure said members in pivotal relation, one

of said members having a protuberance on each side portion thereof adjacent the corresponding lateral margins thereof to abut against the ends of the side portitons of said other member and limit relative pivotal movement of said members in one direction, said one of said members also having an aperture in the upper of its side portions adjacent the opposite lateral margin to that having a protuberance thereon, said hinge pin being bent over at its upper end and extending back parallel to the main portion of said hinge pin to engage with said aperture and limit relative rotation between said members in the other direction.

3. A reversible hinge for providing swinging movement in only one direction and comprising a pair of similar hinge members each having a base engageable with one of two relatively movable members and each having a pair of sides extending substantially normally from the base at the ends thereof, said members being positioned in opposed relation with corresponding sides thereof being partially overlapped in immediately adjacent relation, and a hinge pin engaged with aligned holes formed in the overlapped sides of said members, one of said members having a protuberance on each said side thereof adjacent the corresponding lateral margins thereof to abut against a portion of said other member to limit relative rotation therebetween and having an aperture in saidsides adjacent the other lateral margin thereof, said hinge pin being bent over and axially in at one end parallel to the portion of said hinge pin and being adapted to be positioned to engage with said aperture in the adjacent one of said sides, a side portion of the said end of said hinge pin abutting a portion of said other member to prevent relative rotation therebetween in the other direction, said one member being adapted to be rotated so that the relation of each side of the rotated member with respect to the corresponding side of the stationary member is reversed when said hinge pin 6 is disengaged therefrom and to be re-e'ngaged with said other member and hinge pin to provide a hinge with said members being relatively movable in the opposite direction.

4. A reversible hinge adapted for vertical positioning and for providing swinging movement in only one direction in its normal position and comprising a air of similar hinge members each having a base engageable with one of two relatively movable members and each having a pair of sides extending substantially normally from the base at the ends thereof, said members being positioned in opposed relation with corresponding sides thereof being par tially overlapped in immediately adjacent relation, and a hinge pin engaged with aligned holes formed in the overlapped sides of said members to secure same together for relative, pivotal movement, one of said members having a protuberance on at least one said side thereof to abut against the end of "the side portions of said other member to limit relative rotation therebet'ween in one direction, and having an aperture in the upper of said sides, said hinge pin being bent over at its upper end and extending back parallel to the main portion of said hinge pin to engage with said aperture, a side portion of the bent over end of said hinge pin abutting the end of the side portions of said other member to prevent relative rotation therebetween in the other direction, said one member being adapted to be rotated so that the relation'of each side of the rotated member with respect to the corresponding side'of the stationary member is reversed when said hinge pin is disengaged and to be re-engaged with said other member and hinge pin to provide a hinge with said members being movable in the opposite direction.

5. A hinge for providing limited swinging movement and comprising a pair of similar hinge members each having a base engageable with one of two relatively movable members and each having a pair of sides extending substantially normally from the base at the ends thereof, said members being positioned in opposed relation with corresponding sides thereof being partially overlapped in immediately adjacent relation, a hinge pin engaged with aligned holes formed in the overlapped sides of said members, one of said members having a protuberance on one said side thereof laterally offset from the center thereof to abut against a portion of said other member to limit relative rotation therebetween in one direction and having an aperture in one of said sides laterally offset from the center thereof, and means for engaging with said aperture and abutting on a portion of said other member to prevent relative rotation therebetween in the other direction when said protuberance engages said other member to lock said members in fixed relation, said protuberance and aperture being on opposite lateral portions of said member.

6. A reversible hinge comprising a pair of similar hinge members each having a pair of sides extending substantially normally from the base at the ends thereof, said members being positioned in opposed relation with corresponding said sides thereof being partially overlapped in immediately adjacent relation, and a hinge pin engaged with aligned holes formed in the overlapped sides of said members, one of said members having a protuberance on one said side thereof adjacent the lateral margin thereof to abut against a portion of said other member and limit relative rotation therebetween in one direction when said members are opposed, said one member being adapted to be rotated so that the relation of each side of the rotated member with respect to the corresponding side of the stationary member is reversed when said hinge pin is disengaged and to be reengaged with said other member and hinge pin to provide a hinge with said members being movable in the opposite direction.

7. A hinge as in claim 3 wherein said hinge pin has means thereon for limiting axially inward movement of same with relation to said members when said hinge pin is in its locking position with its side portion engaging said members, said hinge pin having a handle sec? tion provided thereon.

8. A hinge as in claim 3 wherein slots are provided in the base of at least one of said members to facilitate engagement thereof with another article.

9. A hinge as in claim 3 wherein said protuberances each comprise an integral boss formed in a said side portion and having a shoulder for engaging the said other member.

10. A hinge for providing limited swinging movement and comprising a pair of similar hinge members each having a base engageable with one of two relatively movable members and -each having a pair of sides extending substantially normally from the base at the ends thereof, said members being positioned in opposed relation with corresponding sides thereof being partially overlapped in immediately adjacent relation, and a hinge pin engaged with aligned holes formed in the overlapped sides of said members, one of said members having a protuberance on one said side thereof to abut against a portion of said other member to limit relative rotation therebetween in one direction, said hinge pin having a doubled back end portion for engaging said members to prevent relative rotation therebetween in the opposite direction when said protuberance engages said other member.

11. A hinge as in claim 5 wherein said means are integral with said hinge pin.

HILLARD J. SANDS.

NATHAN E. BLANKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Germany Apr. 17, 1925 

